George WeigelRake out small piles of sifted compost over the lawn to "top-dress" it and smooth out ruts.

Q: From too many years of mowing my lawn in the same pattern, I have ruts from the mower wheels. The lawn is about 6,000 square feet. What's the best way to fill in these many ruts?

A: I'd level it gradually by top-dressing with about a quarter-inch of sifted compost, peat moss or similar fine organic matter each spring and early fall. That means dumping small piles of this organic matter throughout the lawn and smoothing it out in a lawn layer right over top of the existing grass.

I'd suggest raking sideways across the ruts with a leaf rake so the compost fills in better. By adding compost a little bit at a time, you won't smother the grass. If you're patient, you'll have a smoother and smoother lawn without the work and expense of digging everything up, then regrading and seeding or sodding. I think you'll see a noticeable difference in just two or three top-dressings.

This is also a good thing for your lawn health, by the way, and it's better than trying to level the lawn with a heavy roller, which compacts the soil and works against the lawn roots.

Mowing in different patterns is definitely a good idea that few people do. But more importantly, try not to mow when the ground is wet. That's when it's especially prone to rutting.